A Funny Thing Happened Previews

[benmangini]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 8:40am

anyone go last night?

Curious to hear about running time and if Beth Behrs stage doors 

Thanks guys 

[benmangini]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 6:57am

Anyone ?

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 7:14am

"Curious to hear about running time and if Beth Behrs stage doors."

 

90 minutes, no intermission.  Sorry, don't know about the stage door.

[benmangini]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:13am

After Eight said: ""Curious to hear about running time and if Beth Behrs stage doors."

 

90 minutes, no intermission.  Sorry, don't know about the stage door.

How was the show ?

"

 

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:37am

^

Ben,

I knew you were going to ask me this!  I had hoped that somehow I could get away with just answering your initial questions, and putting this play behind me, which is what I wanted to do in the first place! 

 

Which probably makes you realize that I didn't like it (putting it mildly), and wished to forget about it as quickly as possible. (Like the minute it ended.) But lest I be accused of being wholly "negative," I'll say that the actors were good.

[ShoesForRent]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 10:47am

Did you clap though?

[benmangini]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 8:08pm

Answering my own question but for anyone curious. Yes she stage doors and takes pics ! 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/26/16 at 12:01am

Saw it tonight and loved it. The first few minutes make you wonder where it's going, but Halley Feiffer takes you along for a wonderful, funny, heartbreaking and deeply moving ride. My only gripe is that it was so short. I rarely wish a play would be longer, but I didn't want to leave her wonderful characters. 

I look forward to seeing it again soon. 

[mamaleh]

Posted: 5/26/16 at 1:12am

I was at this evening's performance.  Sure, there were a few cliches--two emotionally wounded people, each knowing loss both in the past and likely in the near future, finding a kindred spirit in each other; the snappy, foul-mouthed exterior of one a mask of false bravado--but the acting was beautifully natural, revealing two different people who are able to be authentic with each other.  Plus, aside from the often irreverently funny dialogue, there were a couple of gleefully slapstick bits that had me -- and most of the audience -- laughing aloud. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed the play.

I didn't do the stage door so can't report on that.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:49pm

I saw this tonight and put me in the camp who enjoyed it. I thought it started out a little slowly and the opening sequence felt a like contrived, but the laughs were there so I went along with it. Lisa Emery is a true joy and when she became involved in the action things really kicked into high gear for me. 

 

There is an absolutely hysterical (if slightly unbelievable) sequence about 2/3 of the way through the play that had me and a good portion of the audience in raucous laughter. 

 

The acting was very strong all around; Eric Lochtefeld, who was so wonderful as Wystan (not Winston!) Auden in February House was excellent again here. His acting is so different here that you won't even believe it's the same person. Beth Behrs did great work, especially in the second half and it can't be stated enough how much I loved Lisa Emery. You put talent like that in a supporting role like this and it elevates the entire play. 

 

The thing I hated the most? A cheesy lighting effect in the last 30 seconds of the play that frankly would have been thrown out of a Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas special for being too cliche and manipulative. I think Trip Cullman is better than this and needs to rethink it. Cullman did a nice job with Significant Other last season and I think is a director to keep an eye on. 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/28/16 at 12:04am

One other thing I've been meaning to post for a while: the staff members at The Lortel are always so pleasant and welcoming. I know there can be a lot of complaining around here about negative box office/front of house experiences, and sometimes justifiably so; I think it's equally important to point out the good experiences and this group should be the model other houses should follow. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/28/16 at 11:57pm

Got a comp to see this tonight through Show-Score, and found it to be rather forgettable. I appreciated the main message of the show: the notion that humor can be used for healing and coping. But ultimately the humor just wasn't my cup of tea - I only found myself laughing every once in a while, and not very hard. The more emotional moments of the play were nicely done, but nothing that really moved me in any significant way. The acting was perfectly good, but again, nothing to write home about. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, and I never found myself rooting for the two main characters to get together. 

 

This wasn't a bad evening at the theatre at all. I was engaged the whole time, which is more than I can say for lots of shows I see. I think if a show can keep my attention they are already 50% of the way toward me liking it. The play was only 90 minutes, plus I didn't have any other show plans tonight, and I only paid Show-Score's $5 processing fee. So all in all I don't regret seeing it, but I feel like I will likely forget about it in a few months. 

 

Edit: also meant to say that this play reminded me quite a bit of Ripcord, David Lindsay-Abaire's play that was at MTC in the fall. Though I enjoyed Ripcord more. 

Updated On: 5/29/16 at 11:57 PM

[benmangini]

Posted: 7/3/16 at 10:50am

Anyone going to today's final show ? 

[Here I Am]

Posted: 7/4/16 at 10:29pm

I went to the final show and I'm pretty shocked at the negative/mediocre reviews on here. It was honestly one of the best plays I've ever seen. Beautiful and honest, hilarious and poignant. Fantastic acting, too. To me, 'The Humans' was mediocre and this is the play that should be getting accolades on Broadway.

I don't know what lighting effect Whizzer was talking about. Perhaps they cut it during previews?